SMRTNET, Direct Messaging & Meaningful Use

Health Information Exchange(HIE), Direct Messaging & Meaningful Use

What is SMRTNET (HIE) with Direct Messaging?

SMRTNET is a statewide health information exchange used by healthcare providers in over 74 cities in Oklahoma to securely exchange health data with other SMRTNET members in a HIPAA compliant format.  The exchange, which has been in operation for five years, aggregates patient information from all contributing members to create a single view for treating providers with data from multiple sources who have also treated that same patient.

SMRTNET also includes integrated and certified Direct Messaging giving SMRTNET members the power to communicate directly with other members through HIPAA compliant email to aid in communication and referral management.  SMRTNET is trusted by the Oklahoma State Medical Association to operate its health information exchange for all Oklahoma physicians called OKDOCs.

HIE, Direct Messaging and Meaningful Use

Health Information Exchanges assist their contributors by fulfilling specific requirements of Meaningful Use.

• Direct Messaging and attesting to Stage 1 certification: Stage 1 certification requires a test of provider to provider messaging of patient information.  Complete Stage 1 and Stage 2 at the same time by activating Direct Messaging through SMRTNET, an established HISP (Health Information Service Provider), and connect to other Oklahoma providers to exchange PHI in a live environment and facilitate smoother referrals.

• Maximize the value of your EMR by securely exchanging electronic health information with a statewide HIE connected to other member clinical care providers.

• Connect your local data sources encouraging patient centered interoperable health information exchange across provider organizations at a community, regional, and statewide level.

• Be prepared for Meaningful Use Stages 2 and 3. Healthcare providers must prepare now for federal requirements to join health information exchanges expected to be included in Meaningful Use Stage 2 and Stage 3 supporting the goal that information follows the patient.

Meaningful Use and the Exchange of Data

Structured Formats and Required Content

A SMRTNET membership to facilitate the secure exchange of electronic health information will help Oklahoma’s healthcare facilities and providers meet meaningful use.  The data that is contributed to SMRTNET however must be transmitted in a structured format to be compliant to meaningful use guidelines.

If your organization is going to be using the HIE to assist in any part of achieving meaningful use, the organization’s EMR will need to be able to create and contribute the data via one of the acceptable structured formats. Currently the following are considered acceptable structured formats.

• CDA: Clinical Document Architecture

• CCD: Continuity of Care Document (HL7v3) (Accepted by SMRTNET)

• CDR: Clinical Data Repository (Accepted by SMRTNET)

For Stage 1, Meaningful Use requires specific data elements to be included in the respective structured format. At a minimum, the provider or organization should be sharing:

• Problems

• Allergies

• Diagnostic Results

• Procedures

• Medications

The required content for Meaningful Use Stage 2 and 3 is yet to be determined.